Page 129 - UK Regulation Part 21 Initial Airworthiness Annex I (consolidated) March 2022

PART 21 - INITIAL AIRWORTHINESS (ANNEX I)

preceding approval.
4. Changes of location are addressed in 21.A.148 and changes of ownership in 21.A.149,
change of scope of approval in 21.A.153.
21.A.148 Changes of location
A change of the location of the manufacturing facilities of the approved production organisation shall
be deemed of significance and therefore shall comply with point 21.A.147.
21.A.148 AMC Changes of location – Management during change of location
1. The relocation of any work, to an unapproved location, or a location with inappropriate
scope of approval, constitutes a change of significance to the organisation and requires
approval by the CAA as prescribed in 2A.147. An unapproved relocation will invalidate the
production organisation approval, and may necessitate re-application for any similar
approval required at the new location. However, suitable transitional arrangements may be
agreed with the CAA, in advance of the relocation, which can allow continuation of the
approval.
2. When an organisation expands its facility to include a new production location or moves
parts of its production to a new location the production organisation approval may
continue in force, but the approval does not include the new location until the CAA has
indicated its satisfaction with the arrangements.
3. For a change in location, taking an extended period of time, suitable transitional
arrangements would require preparation of a co-ordination plan for the removal. The plan
must, at least, identify the following:
(a) A clearly identified person, or group of persons, responsible for co-ordinating the
removal and acting as focal point for communication with all parties, including the
CAA.
(b) The basis of the co-ordination plan, e.g., whether by product or area.
(c) Planned timing of each phase of relocation.
(d) Arrangements for maintaining the standards of the approval up to the point where
the production area is closed down.
(e) Arrangements for verifying continued production quality upon resumption of work at
the new location.
(f) Arrangements for check and/or re-calibration of inspection aids or production tools
and jigs before resuming production.
(g) Procedures which ensure that goods are not released from the new location until
their associated production and quality systems have been verified.
(h) Arrangements for keeping the CAA informed of progress with the relocation.
4. From the co-ordination plan, the CAA can determine the points at which it wishes to
conduct investigation.
5. If an agreed co-ordination plan is in operation, the CAA will normally allow the existing
approval to remain in force and will, where appropriate, grant an additional approval to
cover the new address for the duration of the move.
21.A.148 GM1-ELA Changes of location
A change of location of the major place of activities to a different geographic location, city, airfield or
similar is deemed to be of significance, and is treated in line with GM-ELA No 1 to 21.A.147.
No other changes related to the location of the company, including a relocation within one building, or
to a neighbouring building on the same premises, or similar, are considered to be of significance, as
long as the parameters that are critical to the environment, infrastructure or equipment remain the
same, and are under the responsibility of the accountable manager (AM). Any other alterations will be
addressed during the subsequent periodical authority oversight.
21.A.149 Transferability
Except as a result of a change in ownership, which is deemed significant for the purposes of point
21.A.147, a production organisation approval is not transferable.
21.A.149 GM Transferability
Transfer of approval would normally only be agreed in cases where the ownership changes but the
organisation itself remains effectively unchanged. For example:
An acceptable transfer situation could be a change of company name (supported by the appropriate
certificate from the National Companies Registration Office or equivalent) but with no changes to site
address, facilities, type of work, staff, accountable manager or person nominated under 21.A.145.
Alternatively, in the event of receivership (bankruptcy, insolvency or other equivalent legal process)
there may be good technical justification for continuation of the approval provided that the company
continues to function in a satisfactory manner in accordance with their POE. It is likely that at a later
stage the approval might be voluntarily surrendered or the organisation transferred to new owners in
which case the former paragraphs apply. If it does not continue to operate satisfactorily then the CAA
could suspend or revoke the approval under 21.B.245.
In order for the CAA to agree to a transfer of approval, it will normally prescribe it as a condition in
accordance with 21.A.147(b) that the obligations and responsibilities of the former organisation should
be transferred to the new organisation, otherwise transfer is not possible and application for a new
approval will be required.
21.A.151 Terms of approval
The terms of approval shall identify the scope of work, the products or the categories of parts and
appliances, or both, for which the holder is entitled to exercise the privileges under point 21.A.163.
Those terms shall be issued as part of a production organisation approval.
21.A.151 GM Terms of approval – Scope and categories
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